Arguing over what temperature the thermostat should be set to happens in nearly every household in America. Some like it colder at night while others prefer it a bit warmer.
If there's a dad in the house, he'll probably want it to feel like a meat locker unless you're paying the bill.
Imagine the shock that reverebrated at a report says that most people are running their central air systems at the wrong temperature -- and they should be set at a constant 82 degrees.
According to Consumer Reports, the Department of Energy and Energy Star recommend the following temperatures for households throughout the day: 78 degrees when you're home, 85 degrees when you're out of the house, and 82 degrees when you're sleeping.
Good luck trying to convince your family to agree on those temperatures inside the house.
Now, those temperatures may sound a bit ridiculous based on how most people set their thermostats, but this is what the report recommended for "optimal cooling and energy efficiency."
According to a Consumer Reports survey of 2,280 U.S. adults in June 2021, the average temperature that people set their thermostats to is 71 degrees.
That sounds much more realistic than the warmer recommendations.
The survey showed that Americans who live in the South set their thermostats higher to 72 degrees during the day and 71 degrees at night. While people from the Northeast prefer it colder, and set theirs to 70 degrees during both the day and night.
"If you’re more heat-tolerant, you can experiment with the temperature, raising it 1° F at a time to see how it affects your comfort and your budget; 3 percent savings per degree adds up pretty quickly," Consumer Reports said.
To beat the heat, the reports suggests using a fan or even keeping the windows open a bit at night if the outside weather permits. They also recommend keeping your blinds or curtains closed while it's sunny outside to prevent heat from coming into the house.
"If you need the AC when you get home, program it to go on before you arrive or, with some thermostats, turn it on with a smartphone app," Consumer Reports said.
Other advice to prevent the house from getting too warm included avoiding using your washer, dryer, and dishwasher during the day during a heat wave. Of course the oven is a main source for heating up the house, so Consumer Reports and Energy Star suggested cooking outside on the grill to keep the heat out of the house.
Related
Related
